MICHAEL POATES

[email protected] • 817.673.0939 • Dallas, TX
LinkedIn: LinkedIn Profile

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Multi-unit growth executive with 20+ years scaling franchise, hospitality, and investment-backed organizations through operational redesign, brand repositioning, and capital strategy. Architect enterprise systems that stabilize performance, reduce overhead, and unlock EBITDA across diverse portfolios. Drive full-cycle business transformation from acquisition and deal structuring to integration, workforce realignment, and sustained market expansion. Reinforce profitability through disciplined execution, turnaround leadership, and high-stakes operational oversight. Reclaim margin, correct inefficiencies, and drive growth beyond market velocity to build lasting enterprise value.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Chief Executive Officer
01/2019 - Present
MACC Investment Group , Prosper, TX
• Scaled operational infrastructure across franchise and retail holdings, improving team productivity by 25% through targeted field training and structural refinement
• Cut process inefficiencies by 15% through time-and-motion analysis and implementation of continuous improvement protocols
• Captured a 25% increase in market share within international hospitality and travel sectors by executing a cross-border strategic growth model
• Delivered $15M in funding to support multi-unit QSR expansion and structured capital for the acquisition of 45 restaurants, resulting in a 30% lift in operational efficiency and $5M in projected annual revenue
• Conducted a full cultural and consumer analysis for a national hamburger chain, expanding the targeted customer base by 15% and driving 10% revenue growth within one year
• Negotiated terms and assembled investor support for the $28M acquisition of Mr. Gatti’s Pizza, contributing to capital structure design and guiding early-stage transition planning
• Raised client-side profitability by 20% through franchise consulting and led the acquisition of 10 top-performing units across key growth markets
• Improved overall business performance by 20% by synchronizing financial models with frontline execution and field strategy
Chief Executive Officer
01/2021 - 01/2022
Dream Trips Travel Club (Verona International Holdings & Rovia Travel) , Frisco, TX
• Introduced a new product line generating $5M in revenue, creating durable income streams for global members during the travel sector collapse
• Realigned workforce structure, achieving 20% optimization while boosting employee productivity by 25% through targeted training and workflow reengineering
• Strengthened brand loyalty by 20% and elevated member satisfaction by 15% by redesigning service models, optimizing communication flow, and embedding retention infrastructure across key markets
• Eliminated $5M in liabilities within six months while securing $6M+ in PPP funding through crisis response leadership, restoring financial stability and lender confidence
• Established investor partnerships and conducted international market assessments to support long-range expansion and capital diversification
• Transitioned the organization to a fully remote global model, preserving operational continuity and cross-border performance throughout pandemic disruption
Chief Operating Officer
01/2020 - 01/2021
Dream Trips Travel Club (World Venture Holdings) , Frisco, TX
• Repositioned the brand by replacing legacy systems, recapitalizing operations, and resolving structural debt
• Launched a nutraceutical line to stabilize revenue amid travel sector volatility
• Oversaw 12 executives and 400 staff, delivering restructured service to 175,000 global members
• Eliminated $64M in spend through contract renegotiation, process refinement, and disciplined controls
• Lifted EBITA 2.1% via pricing recalibration, platform optimization, and cost tightening
• Assessed global markets to guide expansion sequencing and capital deployment
• Transitioned to a remote-first model while maintaining service integrity and team alignment
• Directed PPP funding lifecycle, securing and allocating capital with full compliance and forgiveness
President
01/2015 - 01/2018
Mr. Gatti’s Pizza , Fort Worth, TX
• Reversed same-store sales from -7% to +3% and tripled EBITA, driving three franchise launches within one year
• Rebuilt franchise infrastructure across 27 states, restoring standards and earning national brand accolades
• Improved team productivity by 15% and cut turnover by 10% across a 1,000-person workforce through HR realignment
• Cut costs by 15% and raised efficiency by 20% by streamlining operations
• Lifted positive reviews by 30% through feedback systems and frontline upgrades; expanded brand reach by 25% through targeted regional marketing
President/Chief Operating Officer
01/2010 - 01/2013
Dairy Queen , Irving, TX
• Raised enterprise value from <$8M to $28M and EBITA from <$1M to $6M by fixing margin leaks and restructuring pricing
• Expanded product mix by 20% through data-driven menu innovation aligned with shifting demand
• Cut service times by 25% and boosted productivity 15% via scorecards and labor model recalibration
• Directed 2,000 employees and 12 senior leaders across a top-performing franchise portfolio
• Reduced costs by 15% through vendor renegotiation and rigorous budget discipline
• Built leadership pipelines that lowered turnover and strengthened internal mobility
Director of Operations
01/2003 - 01/2010
Whataburger , Dallas, TX
• Commanded 3–6% annual growth across Florida, Wichita Falls, and DFW by modernizing multi-unit systems and elevating field execution
• Reclaimed underperforming trade areas by designing and deploying localized recovery frameworks
• Governed $38M+ in territory revenue through reinforced cost alignment and operational consistency
• Extracted 20% in overhead savings by recalibrating labor dynamics, renegotiating vendor terms, and simplifying processes
• Engineered a 15% throughput increase via shift model optimization and workflow restructuring
• Established real-time reporting infrastructure that sharpened performance visibility and accelerated tactical response by 25%
Director of Operations
01/1998 - 01/2002
Papa John’s , Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
• Governed full regional oversight across DFW, reinforcing operational precision and revenue continuity across a top-tier franchise market
• Amplified annual sales by 10% through workforce recalibration, structured training loops, and optimized store execution
• Garnered Papa John’s 2001 “Operator of the Year” accolade for transformative impact on territory-wide performance
• Codified durable performance infrastructure that drove consistency, improved retention, and aligned executional discipline across all units

EDUCATION

Culinary Arts Certificate
Universidad – Mexico
Finance Coursework
Point Loma Nazarene University – San Diego, CA , San Diego, CA

SKILLS

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